Golf putter

ABSTRACT

The head of a golf putter is substantially rectangular in shape and has a weight distributing channel formed in the top thereof which extends through one end of the putter head. Within the channel is mounted a shaft-receiving boss adapted to hold the shaft of the putter at an angle such that the putter can be held close to the feet of the user with the bottom surface of the putter parallel to the putting surface. The bottom of the putter head has an upwardly curved rear surface and the front and side walls are inwardly tapered from bottom to top. The weight distribution of the putter head together with the shaft angle allow the putter to be employed with a one-arm pendulum-type swing for improved putting accuracy.

United States Patent 1191' 1111 3,770,279 1 Nov. 6, 1973 Phinny 1 1 GOLFPUTTER D207,228 3/1967 Solheim.... 283/167DUX 3,387,845 6/1968 Raub 273171 x [76] f l z" RR Fremont 3,652,093 3 1972 Reuter 273/167 H x 1C [22]Filed: Nov, 19, 1971 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham [52] U.S. Cl.273/167 G, 273/167 F, 273/167 H [51] Int. Cl. A63b 53/02, A63b 53/04[58] Field of Search 273/77 R, 78, 79, 273/80 C, 163 R, 164, 167475;D34/5 GC, 5 GH [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D202,7l511/1965 Solheim 273/167 D UX D204,001 3/1966 Lubin 273/167 D UX1,154,490 9/1915 Davis 273/78 3,191,936 6/1965 Guier 273/168 R 3,679,2077/1972 Florianm. 273/78 X 3,042,405 7/1962 Solheim 273/167 G X D206,23411/1966 Sasse 273/167 D UX 3,567,227 3/1971 Panks 273/168 D204,0003/1966 Lubin 273/167' D UX Assistant Examiner-Richard J. ApleyAttorney-Price, Heneveld, Juizenga and Cooper [57] ABSTRACT The head ofa golf putter is substantially rectangular in shape and has a weightdistributing channel formed in the top thereof which extends through oneend of the putter head. Within the channel is mounted a shaftreceivingboss adapted to hold the shaft of the putter at an angle such that theputter can be held close to the feet of the user with the bottom surfaceof the putter parallel to the putting surface. The bottom of the putterhead has an upwardly curved rear surface and the front and side wallsare inwardly tapered from bottom to top. The weight distribution of theputter head together with the shaft angle allow the putter to beemployed with a one-arm pendulum-type swing for improved puttingaccuracy.

- 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures GOLF PUTTER The present invention relatesto golf clubs, and particularly to a golf putter. A basic goal in golfputting is to obtain a pendulum-type of swing such that the golf ballwill travel in a straight line toward the cup once struck. For years,various golf putters have been fabricated to aid the golfer in anattempt to improve his putting accuracy. Several putter heads have beendesigned in sundry shapes, sizes and weights; as well as with variousmarkings to allow the user to-align the club head with the golf ball.Nearly all of these putters are designed to be gripped with both hands.

When employing a putter designed for a two-handed grip it is verydifficult to obtain a pendulum-type of swing because of the difficultyin controlling a putter with the relatively slow swing used in puttingwhen the putter is gripped with two hands. It has been discovered,however, that by employing one arm and gripping an appropriatelydesigned club with only one hand; it is easier toobtain a pendulum swingsince there is less chance of the second hand interfering with thesmooth pendulum stroke of the club.

Conventional putters cannot be successfully employed with the one-armswing because they are either too light and therefore are difficult toswing accurately in a pendulum trajectory or their shaft angle is suchthat the golf club must be held away from the body of the golfer. Insuch a position the club is relatively unstable during the swing and itis very difficult to achieve a pendulum-type trajectory with a one-armswing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The golf club of the present invention,however, comprises a putter formed from a generally rectangular putterhead which is somewhat heavier than a conventional putter head. Theputter head is also designed to hold the club shaft at an angle suchthat as the golfer holds the club with one hand with his arm relativelystraight, the club head will be positioned parallel to the puttingsurface and relatively close to the feet of the golfer. By so designingthe club head, a pendulum-type of swing can be achieved since the clubshaft is nearly vertical and the club can easily be guided in a pendulumtrajectory with a relaxed one-arm swing.

Putters embodying the present invention comprise a club head having asubstantially rectangular body member with a relativel flat bottomsurface curved upwardly at one end. The club head includes an openchannel formed in the top which extends through one end of the putter. Ashaft-receiving boss in the channel holds the putter shaft at an angleto enable the club head to be positioned on the ground relatively closeto the feet of the user.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a golfputter adapted to be swung with one arm. I i I It is additionally anobject of the present invention to provide a golf putter having arelatively heavy club head and a relatively steep shaft angle to allowthe putter to be positioned relatively close to the feet of the golferduring use.

It is still an additional object of the present invention to provide agolf putter having a club head with a channel therethrough to distributethe weight of the putter such that it can be used with a one-arm swing.

These and other objects of the present inventionwill become apparentupon an examination of the figures and accompanying description thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a front elevational view ofthe putter head of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the putter head ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF- THE FIGURES Referring now to the figures, thereis shown a golf putter 10 having a head 20 and a shaft 50 coupledthereto. The club head is cast from any suitable material such as brass,bronze, or the like, and is generally rectangular in shape. The clubhead 20 includes a generally U-shaped channel 25 formed in the top andextending from the front or toe portion of the club head through therear or heel of the head 20 as shown in FIGS. v1 and 3. The club headhas a striking surface 21, a rear surface 22, a front surface 23, abottom surface 24, and a top surface 27. The bottom surface 24 of theputter head 20 is generally flat but curves upwardly at the rear end ofthe head at the area 26 shown in FIG. 2. The front surface 23 is taperedinwardly from the bottom to the top of the putter as shown in FIG. 2.Sides 21 and 22 are tapered slightly inwardly from bottom to top andfrom an angle ,8 (FIG. 4) between a vertical line V and the plane of thesides 21 and 22. In the preferred embodiment, angle [3 was between 4 and6.

The U-shaped channel 25 has a floor or bottom surface 28 (FIG. 3) and atwo-leveled step at the front portion of the putter head 20. The stepcomprises a beveled portion 29 and-a flat plateau portion 31 with asurface intermediate the top surface 27 of the putter head and the floor28.

' The channel 25 in the putter head 20 defines a first wall 32 with anoutside surface forming the striking surface 21 and a second wall 34.The inner surface of front wall 32 has a shaft receiving boss 35 whichis integrally molded to the front wall 32 and to the floor 28 of thehead 20. The shaft receiving boss 35 includes an aperture 36 thereinadapted to receive the end of the shaft 30 such that the shaft willextend from the head at an angle between the axis of the shaft 50 andtop surface I 27 of the head 20 as shown in FIG. 2. In the preferredembodiment, angle a was approximately 78 and can be varied between arange of to 80 for optimum performance of the club with a one-armedswing.

The club shown in these figures is adapted for use by a right-handedgolfer. For use as a left-handed club, it is only necessary to shift theboss 35 from the first wall 32 to the second wall 34 whose'outsidesurface would then become the striking surface. By shaping the channelmember 25 as shown and providing the steps comprising the beveledportion 29 and flat plateau. 31, the weight distribution for the putteris such that it can easily be employed with a one-armed swing. It isnoted that surfaces 24, 27, 28 and 31 lie in substantially parallelplanes at the front and middle portions of the club head. In thepreferred embodiment the putter head has a weight of approximately 12%ounces. This weight may vary depending upon the material used for theclub head; it has been found, however, that a club head greater than 12ounces in weight provides the most desirable characteristics forone-armed putting. The weight of the putter head 20 can be variedhowever to suit the individual by grinding the surfaces of the putterevenly and symmetrically during a finishing stage of manufacture. Thetop surface 27 of the putter head may be sand blasted or otherwisetreated to provide a non-reflecting matte surface.

The shaft 50 of the club is of conventional design and includes a grip52 at the end of the shaft remote from its junction with the club head20. The shaft 50 may be somewhat shorter than a conventional puttershaft such that when the club 10 is held by a golfer with the club headrelatively close to the feet of the golfer, the grip 52 is positioned ata vertical height convenient for gripping by one hand with the armextended. Shaft 50 can of course be made of different lengths to fit theheight of individual golfers.

The club head can be modified as shown in FIG. 6 by providing apartition 40 between the boss 35 and the second wall 34 to addstructural support for the boss 35, and increase the support betweenwalls 32 and 34. The partition 40 includes an aperture 41 drilledtherethrough to facilitate drainage of water from the channel betweenthe front portion of the club and the partition 40. In some designs,aperture 41 may be omitted.

The club 10 is used by the golfer by holding the grip 52 of the clubwith one hand, preferably the left, and positioning the club head 20relatively close to the body with the striking surface facing the hole.In this position the bottom surface 24 of the club head 20 is parallelto the putting surface and the club can be swung in a pendulumtrajectory with a relatively relaxed swinging motion of the left arm.

Although the invention is described in the environment of a golf putter,it could likewise be incorporated in other clubs such as short irons byvarying the pitch of the striking surface. Also, although specificallydesigned for one-arm use, it is conceivable that the putter could bemanipulated with a two-armed swing probably however with a loss inaccuracy.

Various other modifications to the club will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art and will fall within the scope of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows.

l. A golf club head comprises a substantially rectangular body havingfront and rear ends and a top surface, said body including an openchannel formed downwardly through said top surface into said body todefine a floor of said channel, said channel extending through said rearend and forming first and second walls of said club head; said openchannel including a beveled surface at an end of said channel adjacentsaid front end of said club head, a step joining said beveled edge andthe remainder of said channel, said step having a surface which liesintermediate said top surface of said club head and said floor of saidchannel and lying in a plane substantially parallel to said top surface;said body including an exterior bottom surface which is substantiallyflat at the front and middle portion and curved upwardly at said rearend of said body; and a shaft receiving boss integrally molded to one ofsaid walls of said body and said floor of said channel, said bossincluding an aperture adapted to receive and hold a club shaft at anangle of to inclusive between the longitudinal axis of the shaft and theplane of the top surface of the club head to enable the club head to bepositioned on the ground relatively close to the feet of the user.

2. The golf club head as defined in claim 1 and further including apartition extending from said boss across said channel and joined tosaid wall remote from said boss.

3. A golf putter comprising: a club head comprising a substantiallyrectangular body with top and bottom surfaces, front and rear ends and achannelformed in said body and extending through said rear end to formfirst and second walls, one of said walls having an outer surface forstriking a golf ball and wherein said bottom surface of said head iscurved upwardly at said rear end; said channel including a beveled frontedge and a step forming a plateau extending rearwardly from said bevelededge, said plateau lying in a plane substantially parallel with said topsurface of said club head, said head having a weight greater than 12ounces; a shaft receiving boss integrally molded to one of said wallsand extending into said channel for receiving a shaft at an anglebetween the longitudinal axis of the shaft and the plane of the topsurface of the club head of 75 to 80 inclusive; and a club shaft rigidlycoupled to said shaft receiving boss.

4. A golf club head comprising:

a molded rectangular body having a substantially flat top surface, saidbody including a substantially rectangular channel formed downwardlythrough said top surface into said body to define a floor of saidchannel and extending from a toe portion of said club head through aheel end of said head opposite said toe, said channel defining front andrear walls having interior surfaces substantially perpendicular to saidfloor; and

a shaft receiving boss integrally molded to only one of said walls andextending into said channel therefrom, said boss spaced inwardly fromthe heel end of said club head and including a shaft receiving apertureadapted to receive a club shaft at an angle to enable the club head tobe positioned on the ground relatively close to the feet of the user.

5. The club head as defined in claim 4 wherein said boss is molded tothe wall whose exterior surface forms the ball striking surface of saidclub head.

6. The club head as defined in claim 5 wherein said toe portion of saidclub head includes a step formed downwardly in said body from said topsurface and spaced inwardly from the toe end of said club head, saidstep in communication with said channel and having asurface lyingintermediate said top surface and said floor and substantially parallelto said top surface.

7. The club head as defined in claim 6 wherein said aperture in saidboss holds a club shaft at a fixed angle of from 75 to 80 inclusivemeasured from the longitudinal axis of the shaft and the plane of saidtop surface of said body.

1. A golf club head comprises a substantially rectangular body havingfront and rear ends and a top surface, said body including an openchannel formed downwardly through said top surface into said body todefine a floor of said channel, said channel extending through said rearend and forming first and second walls of said club head; said openchannel including a beveled surface at an end of said channel adjacentsaid front end of said club head, a step joining said beveled edge andthe remainder of said channel, said step having a surface which liesintermediate said top surface of said club head and said floor of saidchannel and lying in a plane substantially parallel to said top surface;said body including an exterior bottom surface which is substantiallyflat at the front and middle portion and curved upwardly at said rearend of said body; and a shaft receiving boss integrally molded to one ofsaid walls of said body and said floor of said channel, said bossincluding an aperture adapted to receive and hold a club shaft at anangle of 75* to 80* inclusive between the longitudinal axis of the shaftand the plane of the top surface of the club head to enable the clubhead to be positioned on the ground relatively close to the feet of theuser.
 2. The golf club head as defined in claim 1 and further includinga partition extending from said boss across said channel and joined tosaid wall remote from said boss.
 3. A golf putter comprising: a clubhead comprising a substantially rectangular body with top and bottomsurfaces, front and rear ends and a channel formed in said body andextending through said rear end to form first and second walls, one ofsaid walls having an outer surface for striking a golf ball and whereinsaid bottom surface of said head is curved upwardly at said rear end;said channel including a beveled front edge and a step forming a plateauextending rearwardly from said beveled edge, said plateau lying in aplane substantially parallel with said top surface of said club head,said head having a weight greater than 12 ounces; a shaft receiving bossintegrally molded to one of said walls and extending into said channelfor receiving a shaft at an angle between the longitudinal axis of theshaft and the plane of the top surface of the club head of 75* to 80*inclusive; and a club shaft rigidly coupled to said shaft receivingboss.
 4. A golf club head comprising: a molded rectangular body having asubstantially flat top surface, said body including a substantiallyrectangular channel formed downwardly through said top surface into saidbody to define a floor of said channel and extending from a toe portionof said club head through a heel end of said head opposite said toe,said channel defining front and rear walls having interior surfacessubstantially perpendicular to said floor; and a shaft receiving bossintegrally molded to only one of said walls and extending into saidchannel therefrom, said boss spaced inwardly from the heel end of saidclub head and including a shaft receiving aperture adapted to receive aclub shaft at an angle to enable the club head to be positioned on theground relatively close to the feet of the user.
 5. The club head asdefined in claim 4 wherein said boss is molded to the wall whoseexterior surface forms the ball striking surface of said club head. 6.The club head as defined in claim 5 wherein said toe portion of saidclub head includes a step formed downwardly in said body from said topsurface and spaced inwardly from the toe end of said club head, saidstep in communication with said channel and having a surface lyingintermediate said top surface and said floor and substantially parallelto said top surface.
 7. The club head as defined in claim 6 wherein saidaperture in said boss holds a club shaft at a fixed angle of from 75* to80* inclusive measured from the longitudinal axis of the shaft and theplane of said top surface of said body.